The University celebrates the Chinese Year of the Pig!
There are a variety of performances, workshops and craft activities planned this weekend to celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year!
News in January
£1.3 million funding boost to bridge gap between research and society
Organisations and companies will be able to benefit from a £1.3 million grant awarded to the University of Bristol, to ensure university research can bring maximum benefits to society.
Centuries lost ‘Bristol Merlin’ uncovered at city’s Central Library
A chance discovery, hidden away in a series of 16th-century books deep in the archive of Bristol Central Library, has revealed original manuscript fragments from the Middle Ages which tell part of the story of Merlin the magician, one of the most famous characters from Arthurian legend.
Historic milestone as eyesore gets knocked down to make way for new campus
Demolition of Bristol’s most prominent derelict building got underway today – a key and historic milestone in the creation of the University of Bristol’s new campus.
Bristol researchers share expertise to tackle global challenges
Scientists from the University of Bristol will be sharing their expertise as part of two new £20 million UK Research and Innovation Global Research Hubs funded through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
Professor Rodney Lowe, 1946-2018
Rodney Lowe, Professor Emeritus of Contemporary British History and Official Historian of the Civil Service, died on 1 December 2018 at the age of 72. Professor Hugh Pemberton offers a remembrance.
University offers free February bus rides
Commuters and local residents are invited to try out a new Bristol bus service for free, as the University of Bristol offers a free trial on the Unibus U2 service, from Monday 18 February to Friday 22 February.
A cappella alumni reunite for explosive 5-year anniversary show
Much-loved student a cappella group, The Bristol Suspensions, are set to reunite with five years of alumni for a first of its kind, show-stopping charity concert at Bristol SU’s Anson Rooms [Richmond Building, Saturday 2 February at 7.30pm].
New kidney research sheds light on harms of certain drugs
Scientists have identified an enzyme that is a “master regulator” of kidney function that if excessively suppressed, can trigger renal failure. Their findings have implications for the use of existing drugs and the development of new pharmaceuticals.
University appoints new Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience
Professor Sarah Purdy has been appointed to the newly created post of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience.
League tables ‘punish and reward wrong schools’, new analysis shows
Secondary school league tables, published today [24 January], ‘punish and reward the wrong schools’ by failing to take pupil background into account, according to new research from the University of Bristol.
Needle and syringe programmes are highly cost-effective at preventing hepatitis C transmission
Providing clean injecting equipment through needle and syringe programmes is a highly cost-effective way of preventing hepatitis C (HCV) transmission among people who inject drugs and could save millions of pounds in infection treatment costs in the UK, according to research led by the University of Bristol and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Advanced modelling techniques could improve how cities deal with floods
A city’s ability to safeguard the public in the event of a flood could be greatly improved by using scientific practices for emergency plans and involving decision-makers in the process.
Assessing the airborne survival of bacteria in aerosol droplets from coughs and sneezes
The airborne transmission of diseases including the common cold, influenza and tuberculosis is something that affects everyone with an average sneeze or cough sending around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.
Researchers warn online GP consultations need careful implementation
The new NHS 10-year plan launched earlier this month [7 January] states all patients in England will have access to a "digital first primary care offer", such as GP online consultations, by 2022/23. Online consultations have the potential to improve patient access and reduce face-to-face contacts, freeing up GP time. But research led by NIHR CLAHRC West and the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol found that unless these systems are carefully implemented, they won’t yield the benefits policymakers are hoping for.
Bird beaks did not adapt to food types as previously thought
A study, led by the University of Bristol, has shed some new light on how the beaks of birds have adapted over time.
Major new biography of Victor Hugo, the man behind Les Misérables
The first major biography in English for over 20 years, detailing the life and work of the iconic 19th-century French writer, Victor Hugo, will be published in February.
University of Bristol is 2nd most-targeted university by employers
A major new report has revealed that students at the University of Bristol are among the most targeted by Britain’s top 100 employers.
Teens keep active despite asthma or eczema, study finds
A fresh look by the University of Bristol at how teenagers are affected by their asthma, eczema or obesity has some reassuring findings published in BMJ Open today (Monday 21 January).
Study to look at a dog's emotional attachment to toys
Does your dog have an attachment to toys? If so, researchers from the University of Bristol Vet School and School of Psychological Science want to hear from dog owners for a new study on pets' attachment to toys.
Study finds elevated levels of stress hormone linked to housing type and tenure
A new study examining UK housing data and health outcomes has indicated a link between people living in the private rental sector having higher levels of a stress hormone. The findings, led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Essex, are published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Professor Jane Norman appointed as the new Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences
The University has appointed a new Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Professor Jane Norman, currently Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health at the University of Edinburgh, will take up the formal responsibilities of Dean from 1 August 2019
New insights into what Neolithic people ate in southeastern Europe
New research, led by the University of Bristol, has shed new light on the eating habits of Neolithic people living in southeastern Europe using food residues from pottery extracts dating back more than 8,000 years.
Medical detection dogs help diabetes patients regulate insulin levels
New research by the University of Bristol in collaboration with Medical Detection Dogs has found that the best trained alert dogs have the potential to vastly improve the quality of life of people living with Type 1 diabetes.
Think Big: University doubles funding for international scholarships to £1million
As the Think Big initiative runs into its second year the University of Bristol has increased its investment, expanding opportunities for international scholarships.
Free tools empower public in bid for online privacy
Protecting personal information while surfing the web or using apps is a concern for many of us and successfully shielding such data can be a struggle.
Cities could play a key role in pollinator conservation
Given the pressures that pollinators face in agricultural land, cities could play an important role in conserving pollinators, according to a new study. The research, carried out by scientists at the Universities of Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Reading in collaboration with Cardiff University and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), has revealed that gardens and allotments are good for pollinators, and lavender and borage are important garden plants that pollinators use as food sources.
‘No-deal’ Brexit could see value of UK companies decrease even further
The impact of the Brexit vote reduced the value of UK companies by 16 per cent, with those domestically-focused being the hardest hit, according to new analysis from the University of Bristol.
The Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year Olds
An award-winning documentary series, featuring the University of Bristol’s Professor Paul Howard-Jones, returns to our screens tonight [Thursday, 10 January].
Prestigious award for Bristol scientist
A University of Bristol academic has been recognised for his work in the field of synthetic chemistry after being awarded the prestigious Yamada-Koga Prize 2019 from the University of Tokyo.
Bristol named fifth most healthy university in new survey
With New Year's resolutions in full swing, students at the University of Bristol can rest assured that they’re studying at one of the country’s healthiest universities.
Subglacial weathering alters nutrient cycles in Greenland
The nutrient cycles that underpin how carbon is stored and released from two of Greenland’s glaciers is significantly affected by subglacial weathering, a new study has found, shedding further light on the geochemistry of meltwaters.
Census data could be used to improve city neighbourhoods
A new analysis of the 2011 census has revealed that social differences among city populations significantly influence how neighbourhoods take shape. Researchers hope that their insights could help councils to make better planning decisions.
Ofsted praises ‘outstanding’ teacher training at the University of Bristol
Teacher training provision at the University of Bristol has been ranked as outstanding in every category by Ofsted, which praised the standard of newly qualified teachers who are ‘exceptionally well-prepared’ for their first job.
Project could reduce the harm of injecting drugs
New posters, a booklet and an animation, co-designed by service users from Bristol Drugs Project, are being launched later this month to promote the benefits of low dead space injecting equipment for people who inject drugs, alongside broader harm reduction messages.
Bristol academic awarded prestigious cell biology medal
An academic from the University of Bristol's School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine has been honoured with a prestigious medal from the British Society of Cell Biology (BSCB).
New support for partnerships and strategic relationships launched
As part of the University’s commitment to increase support for collaborative working, partnerships and engagement, the Research and Enterprise Development (RED) division is bringing together Partnerships and Programmes into a single team.
Minister given glimpse of the future as robotics meets ultrasound
From contactless medical procedures to underground robots detecting pipe damage, the new Universities and Science Minister Chris Skidmore has seen first-hand how futuristic university research could help to solve some of society’s big challenges.
Melting ice sheets release tons of methane into the atmosphere, study finds
The Greenland Ice Sheet emits tons of methane according to a new study, showing that subglacial biological activity impacts the atmosphere far more than previously thought.